Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
R+D+I Project Management
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Doubts will be resolved before or after class. Non-face-to-face doubts will be resolved by videoconference.
Introduction
In this subject, students are trained in the most modern and current tools for managing R+D+I projects and managing high-performance teams. It will deal with aspects of project management within the transversal process of R + D + I, understanding the differential parts of each stage, and its importance when implementing projects.
Pre-course requirements
It is recommended to have completed Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Objectives
- Know the basics of project management.
- Know the management methodologies within each stage of the R + D + I process
- Know agile management methodologies.
- Know the methodologies of stakeholder management
- Know the risk management methodologies
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
CB3: That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their study area) to make judgments that include a reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
CB4: That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.
CG10: Designing, writing and executing projects related to the area of Biomedical Sciences.
CG11: Recognizing basic concepts from different fields related to biomedical sciences.
CT1: Developing the capacity for organization and planning appropriate to the moment.
CT3: Developing the capacity for analysis and synthesis.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Understand project management within the framework of complexity
- Understand the bases for planning, organizing, directing and controlling research, development and innovation projects in the field of biomedicine
- Understand the bases for planning, organizing and controlling the workload that is assigned
- Understand the inception deck methodology for taking requirements
- Understand agile project (Scrum) and process (Kanban) methodologies, as well as the concept of continuous improvement
- Understand Design Thinking and Lean Starup methodologies
Syllabus
- R+D+I Process: The different stages of the process within the framework of project management. Systematization of the process. The transfer of value.
- Basic concepts in project management: Strategies to manage uncertainty. Complexity model to project management. Continuous improvement. Review of methodologies and concepts. Identification of objectives. Key factors in the management of highly complex projects.
- Agile Methodologies: Prioritization to adaptability, flexibility, collaboration and self-organization. Key principles and practices. Comparison with traditional methodologies.
- Kanban: Focus on processes. Visualization and optimization of the workflow. Tasks and statuses. Essential practices of the process.
- Design Thinking: Customer-centric approach. Promotion of creativity and innovation. Identification of opportunities. Generation of creative and innovative ideas. Prototyping.
- Lean Startup: Focus on the development of products and services. Adaptive cycle of creation and learning. Identification of hypotheses and validation through experimentation.
- SCRUM: I focus on collaboration, transparency and value delivery. Roles, events and artifacts. Development cycles and value delivery.
- Inception Deck: Tool to initiate and align teams on projects developed in complex environments: vision, objectives, scope, requirements and constraints, risks, stakeholder management and high-level project planning
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Master classes: presentation of a theoretical topic by the teacher.
Clinical cases or case methods (CM): at the end of a block the approach of a real or imaginary situation will be made. Students work on the questions asked in small groups or in active interaction with the teacher and the answers are discussed. The teacher actively intervenes and, if necessary, will contribute new knowledge. Each student must deliver the corresponding deliverable for evaluation.
Virtual education (EV): online material that the student can consult from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) First call:
Attendance: 10%
Class participation and attitude: 10%
Practical deliverables at the end of each block: 40%
Continuous evaluation. Test questions, at the end of each block: 40%
2) Second call or later: the grade of participation and attitude in class will be saved, as well as its weighting (20%).
A case to be developed will be delivered incorporating the concepts of the course on specific practical development questions.
General points to keep in mind about the evaluation system:
1) Class participation means the contribution of interesting ideas or the raising of relevant questions that help to improve the quality of the session, whether it is a lecture or methods of the case.
2) Attendance at classes is not compulsory, but attendees must abide by the rules indicated by the teachers. In case you do not arrive on time, you must enter quietly without disturbing or interrupting the class. In case of not attending a minimum of 65% of the sessions, the participation in class will be scored very low.
Bibliography and resources
OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264239012-en.
The Agile Samurai. Jonathan Rasmusson. The Pragmatic Programmers. 2017.
User stories applied for agile software development. Mike Cohn. Addison-Wesley Signature Series. 2004.